Publication

5 March 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a handbook outlining the key concepts, elements and requirements of the international climate change measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework. The handbook is intended to help developing countries efficiently and effectively implement the MRV framework.

4 March 2015: According to the 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR15), economic losses from disasters amount to US$250-300 billion each year. The report, prepared by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, estimates that an annual investment of US$6 billion in disaster risk management would generate US$360 billion over the next 15 years through avoided losses.

4 March 2015: A series of reports launched at the 15th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) address: biodiversity decline; progress toward the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Targets in Africa; development, food security and livelihoods in mountain communities; achievements from the China-Africa Cooperation Programme; climate change adaptation; and youth.

2 March 2015: “The level of ambition of existing environmental policy may be inadequate to achieve Europe's long-term environmental goals,” according to ‘The European environment - state and outlook 2015 - synthesis report' (SOER 2015). The report finds that the region faces substantial challenges in protecting its natural capital, stimulating resource-efficient, low carbon economic and social development, and safeguarding its population from environmental health risks. The European Environment Agency (EEA) produces the SOER every five years.

2 March 2015: The eight multilateral development banks (MDBs) are on target to reach their goal of investing US$ 175 billion in sustainable transport over the decade from 2012-2022, according to a report jointly published by the MDBs. The report emphasizes how the MDBs' sustainable transport investments are supporting climate-resilient, low-carbon growth in developing countries.

10 February 2015: The UK Government published a response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee's (EAC) report on recommended actions and support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its responses, the Government explains and reiterates its position on the proposed SDGs, also addressing: natural capital accounts; climate change and the SDGs; energy subsidies; poverty and trade; air pollution; resource efficiency and the circular economy; forest indicators; biodiversity funding and support for marine protected areas (MPAs); and education and youth engagement in the SDGs.

25 February 2015: A report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) finds that transitioning to modern district energy systems could reduce primary energy consumption by up to 50%. The resulting emission reductions could amount to 60% of those required of the energy sector by 2050 to keep average temperature rise below 2°C, according to the report, titled 'District Energy in Cities: Unlocking the Potential of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.'

February 2015: During February 2015, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank and the Citi corporation reported on funding and new financial instruments. IDB, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and the World Bank launched publications on, inter alia, climate resilience, green growth and carbon pricing, and reported on a regional event in Asia.

February 2015: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published a report, titled ‘Africa's Adaptation Gap 2: Bridging the gap – mobilizing sources,' which assesses a range of possible options for closing the adaptation finance gap on the continent.